Machine and method of making ice or the like



Oct. 23, 1951 c. FIELD 2,572,328

v MACHINE AND METHOD OF MAKING ICE OR THE LIKE Filed April 5,1945 8 sheets-sheet 1 80 /SZ N O 8/ y I N INVENTOR ATTO Oct. 23,' 1951 Q FIELD 2,572,328

MACHINE AND METHOD OF MAKING ICE OR THE LIKE Filed April 5, 1945 l Y 8 sheets-sheet 5 'TTV-4. 92

INVENTOR Crosy FL'elc BY Oct. 23, 1951 cz. FIEL 2,572,328

MACHINE AND METHOD OE'MAKING ICE 0R THE LIKE Filed April' 5, 1945 a sheets-sheet 4 @www ASW? Oct., 23, 1951 c. FIELD 2,522,328

MACHINE AND METHOD OF MAKING ICE OR THE LIKE Filed April', v1945 8 sheets-sheet 5 'n n lll.

aNvENToR Urosy .Feld

Get. 23, 1951 c. FIELD 2,572,328

MACHINE AND METHOD OF MAKING ICE OR THE LIKE Filed April 5, 1945 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 ATTORN S Oct. 23, 1951 C, FIELD 2,572,328

MACHINE AND METHOD OF MAKING ICE 0R THE LIKE Filed April 5', 1945 s sheets-sheet 7 A /94 220 I Z22 200, zf 226 z/fzd N L 'IN I" 11252 ZJ 13 0d, l l+12 Y T 236 INVENTOR C'zos Faelol @y f @WB/@EMM EYS Qd. 23, 1951 c. FIELD 2,572,323

MACHINE AND METHOD OF MAKING ICE 0R THE LIKE Filed April 5, 1945 8 sheets-sheet` s i5 Elli.

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c 'VEQ-R zd ros e BY L Patented Oct. 23, 1951 MACHINE ANDv METHOD or MAKING ICE on THEy LIKE Crosby Field, Brooklyn, N. Y., assignor to Flalice Corporation, Brooklyn, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application April 5, 1945, Serial No. 586,7 38

27 Claims.

This invention relates to refrigeration and more particularly to the automatic forming of small bodies or cubes of ice.

An object of this invention is to provide an apparatus and method for making ice in the form in which the ice is to be used. A further object is to provide for the congealing of a liquid in spaced zones so that individual frozen units are formed. A further object is to provide apparatus of the above character which is simple and compact, and yet sturdy and durable in construction. A still further object is to provide apparatus of the above character which is4 eflicient in the utilization of the refrigerating medium, both with respect to the refrigerant used, and with respect to the variation in the load upon the system. Another object is to provide for the removal of i'ce from the surface upon which it is formed by producing a sudden shock which severs the ice bond between the ice and the surface. A further object is to provide a method and apparatus of simplified form for carrying out the above in a fully automatic manner. These and'other objects will be in part obvious and in part pointed out below.

' The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements, arrangements of parts and in the several steps and relation and order of each of the same to one or more of the others, all as will be illus- 'tratively described herein, and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the following claims.

In the drawings in which are shown several of many possible embodiments of the invention:

Figure 1 is a vertical section with parts broken away of one embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2 is a section on the line 2 2 of Figure l; Y

Figure 3 is a section on the line 3--3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a plan view of the apparatus of Figure 1 with parts broken away;

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 1 with the central portion of the apparatus broken away and showing'another embodiment of the invention;

Figure 5a is a relatively enlarged sectional view on the line a--a of Figure 5;

Figure 6 is a sectional view on the line 6--6 of Figure 5;

' Figure 'l is a top-plan view of the embodiment of Figure 5; .Figure 8 is a side elevation of the ice scoop of the. embodiment of Figure5; f- A Vpieces of the desired size.

2 Figure 9 is a View similar to Figure 7 but showing another embodiment of Figure 5;

Figure 10 is a View similar to the upper portion of Figure 5 and showing certain of the working partsof the embodiment of Figure 9;

Figure 11 is a view similar to the lower portion of Figure 5 but showing another embodiment of the invention;

Figure l2 is a sectional View on the line l2-l2 of Figure 1l; and

Figure 13 is a horizontal sectional View on the line l3-l3 of Figure 11.

The present application relates to my copending application Serial Number 538,768, led June 5, 1944, issued as Patent No. 2,488,529 on November 22, 1949, there being in both applications certain common subject matter and certain of the objects being the same.

In accordance with the present invention, ice is formed in the form of small cubes, the term cube being used in its broader sense to designate a small piece of ice of regular shape. While it is contemplated that the cubes may be other shapes such as round in cross-section, in the illustrative embodiments of the present invention the ice is made in square tubes, and the resulting pieces of ice are square in cross-section and thus substantially cubes except that a hole extends through each of them along the axis of the freezing tubes. After being formed, the ice is freed or harvested without changing the form of the ice by suddenly heating the freezing tubes; this operation of freeing the ice from the tubes is at times referred to herein as harvesting the tube or tubes, although strictly speaking it is the icel cubes or ice bodies which are harvested from the tubes in which they are formed. The freezing and harvesting operations are carried on automatically, there being means to freeze ice continuously and intermittently operating means to harvest the ice.

In the past ice has been formed into large blocks or sticks which are then cut into small This is inefficient and wasteful with regard to the time consumed and the use of apparatus not only during the freezing of the ice but in the cutting of the ice. Ice has been formed in cubesbut in general this has been unsatisfactory, the main difficulty being that the prior apparatuses are complicated and inefficient. An object of the present invention is to overcome the objection to the prior art practices.

Referring particularly to Figure 1 of the drawings, the ice is formed inthe central zone of a Apassageway 3l.

3 cylindrical casing 2 formed of a heat insulating plastic and clamped by a set of stay bolts 4 between a top plate E and a bottom plate B. EX- tending between plates 6 and 8 and positioned in a circular row (see Figures 2 and 3) are twentyone square freezing tubes l0, through which water is directed from an annular tank l2. Tank l2 rests upon the top of plate 8, and in the top of each freezing tube is a restricted nozzle I4 to limit the flow of Water through the tube. The water which enters the tubes and is not frozen flows from the bottom of the tubes and thence through a screen I6 to a tank I8; from tank i8 the water is pumped back to tank l2 by pump 28 through a pipe 22 (represented schematically). During the harvesting operation of each tube the ice bodies or ice cubes fall onto screen L and are directed by the screen to a storage bin not shown. Concentrically embedded in casing 2 and forming therein an annular space through which tubes l0 extend, are two steel cylinders 24 and 26. The .annular space 25 between these cylinders is closed at the top and bottom respectively by terminal rings 2B and 3,8 of a hard plastic; thus, annular space 25 is pressure-tight, and provides an annular evaporator section.

However, the major portion of this spaceis filled 3l (see Figure 2) extending at the top from a liquid refrigerant inlet 32 and around and past the tubes I0 (as shown at 34) in six complete turns (see also Figure 1) to a gasrefrigerantoutlet 3S. Thus an evaporator assembly is formed by the shell construction which encloses space 25 and the non-rigid plastic defining the spiral During yoperation refrigerant is evaporated within this evaporator assembly so .as to.freeze iceon the inner walls of the portions of freezing tubes -l to 34 within this-evaporator assembly.

In passing-tubes I!! at 34 passageway 3l is divided into twobranches so that the refrigerant .makes contact with the tubes on all four sides.

.Thewidth'and pitch of the spiral of passageway VY3| are such that the tubes are refrigerated in the spaced Zones where it is 'desired that ice be formed with eachfzone being a length of tube equal to the desired rsize of the ice cube. The liquid refrigerant which enters at 32 is turned liquid refrigerant is supplied to vpipe 32 from a receiver 38, and the gaseous refrigerant from fpipe 36 is compressed by a compressor 4) driven `.by a motor 59 and condensed 'in-a .condenser 42.

Water ows down the freezing tubes 'at sufficient velocity to cause the iceto be clear, and the water required tomaintain the level indicated in tank l2 is largely supplied by lpump v2) although the water frozen `is replaced through a supply pipe 44 controlled by-a'fioat Valve 4E. As shown best in Figure-4, two partitions 45 and 4i extend across the tank on the opposite sides of the `float `and the partitions are provided with holes 43 (Figure l) so'that'the water flows freely through the partitions.

Theiharvesting operation isperformedby sending a high current of the magnitude of 200 to 1000 amperes through the tube walls; that is,-the

freezing tube itself maybe Vconsidered asa resistance unit 'through which Ythe high Acurrent passes so that the ice in the tube is given a sudden electrical blow and the ice is suddenly freed. The freeing or harvesting operation may be by the separate or combined effects of, melting the adhering layer of ice, and expanding the tube and thus .shearing the tube surface from the ice. The tubesare harvested insequence, there being Vmeans to cause the current to flow through one tube and then through the next tube progressively around the row or bank of tubes. The means for producing this current is a transformer 48 having an iron core 50, a primary winding 52 and "a single turn secondary winding formed by a 'central copper shaft 54, a pair of distributor arms 56 and -58 atvthe ends of shaft 54 and one of tubes l0 (i.-e., the tube which is then being harvested). Accordingly, at the top and bottom of each freezing tube are commutator segments 68 (see also Figure 3) to which the current is delivered from the distributor arms 5S and 58. 'Each of -the .distributor arms is `provided with a copper brush 6.2. .whichgis spring-pressed against the segments by aspring Bland is connected to the distributorarm by a exible copper `connector I66. Currentis supplied to transformer 48 through a pair of leads 68 which pass upwardly .in casing 2 and through ring 28 `as will be more fully explained below.

Shaft 54 is supported respectively lat the top and bottom by insulated-bearings 6'! and B9 and is rotated with a'step-by-step progressive movement, so that the-freezing tubes aresuccessivel-y included within the secondary circuit of the transformer. This step-bystep movement is imparted -to shaft 54 fat Ithe top of the `Ashaft through a driveshaft 'I0 which is insulatedelectrically from shaft 54at 1l. Drive shaft 'mextends throughbearings v'l2 and 13 and at the top haskeyed to it a ratchet wheel 14 shown best in Figure 4 and havingtwenty-three'teeth. Ratchet wheel 'i4 is engaged by a dog '1 6 carried by an actuating arm 'I8 and spring-pressed by a spring .'f. A.actuating arm 18 is pivoted on bearing 12 (Figure 1) and at its free end it carries a bracket i9 which is connected through a link 80 to-an arm 8i of a crank-'arm 82 (Figure v1) mounted on a fixed-bracket B'to rock-about a horizontal axis 84. Rocking movement is transmitted tocrankarm 82 through its other arm 83 by asolenoid unit 188. Bracket 19 ofarm -78 is-also connected througha pivoted knuckle pin 93 to one end of (Figure 4) a tension'spring 9D 'the other end .of which is mounted by a knuckle pin SI on afixed pivot v92;'spring 90 is under tension biasing actuatingV arm I8 counter-clockwise with the elements in the positions shown in Figure 4. However, upon the energization of solenoid unitf88, arm 83 is pulled down, andJcrank-arm'li2is rocked about its pivot so that arm 8l is lifted (Figure l) with the result-thatlink'fswings actuating 'arm 18 clockwise (Figure 4). During this movement, dog d'6 slidesover one tooth. on the ratchet wheel`14; thereafter the solenoid is deenergized and spring Sswingsfarm 'I8 "back to the position of Figure 4. Dog `Il'carries the ratchet wheel withit so that the ratchet wheel is rotated one step, and (Figure 1) arms 55 and 58 are moved to the next freezing tube. y The operation' of'this apparatus is controlled by a timer 93 (shown at the left in Figure il) so that the ice is harvested in each tube whenthe cubes reach the desired size. The harvesting operation is carried on by starting (see Figure 3) with vthe tube indicated ma at vthe pointwhere the gas refrigerant is discharged through pipe 38,

' direction.

'and when the electric circuit through this tube has been completed by the proper positioning of arms 56 and 58, current is supplied through lines 68 to the primary of transformer 48. The duration of this current is very short, for example, ten seconds, and this frees the ice. In this embodiment current is supplied to energize solenoid unit 88 simultaneously with the harvesting of each tube. Thus, at the time the current is turned on to energize transformer 48, -current is also turned on to energize the solenoid unit, and the elements for turning the ratchet wheel are moved to their positions shown in Figure 1. When the harvesting current is turned off, solenoid unit 88 is simultaneously deenergized with the result that spring 90 is permitted to return the elements to the positions of Figure 4 and in this way advance the arms 56 and 58 to engagement with the next freezing tube IIlb which is then harvested.

The other tubes I are harvested in succession around the bank of tubes in a counterclockwise The refrigerant flows around -the spiral passageway 3| clockwise, i. e., in the direction opposite to the direction in which the tubes -are harvested. Thus, the refrigerant flowing from a tube which is being harvested flows past the tubes which have been last harvested. This precludes the possibility of tempering or warming the ice in a tube by bubbles of warm refrigerant gas just before harvesting.

During each period that the harvesting current Vis turned on the current to compressor motor 39 is turned off. However, motor 39 has mounted on its shaft a flywheel having suflicient momentum to drive compressor 40 for the short period of time that the harvesting current is on. In this way, an undesirable power leak is avoided on the electric power supply circuit. The power to motor 39 is turned off by the same relay and with the same movement as that used for turning on the power to the current transformer 48. As shown best in Figure 2 the twenty-one freezing tubes are evenly spaced, but a space is provided between tubes lila and Illu in which the refrigerant supply and lwithdrawal pipes 32 and 36 are positioned. As shown in Figure 4 the iioat valve assembly 46 is positioned directly above the refrigerant supply and discharge pipes so that the entry of water to tank I2 does not interfere with the flow of water down any of the freezing tubes.

Referring to the left-hand side of Figure 1 blank commutator segments 95 are provided between the segments 69 for tubes Illa and Illu so that brushes 62 will pass readily. Thus, as the distributor arms 56 and 58 move from the commutators for tube Illu, they move successively to `two pairs of blank commutator segments 95 and thence move on to the commutator segments for tube Illa. Under some circumstances it is desirable to prevent the turning on of the harvesting current while the distributor arms are opposite the blank commutator segments 95. Accordingly,

' positioned ldirectly above the commutator segdistributor arm is opposite the blank commutator y segments 95.- Thus, as the distributor arms are stepped around from one 'set of segments to the next, timer 93 turns on the current to leads 68 each time that the distributor arms are stopped, and no special provision need be made for preventing the turning on of current to the transformer when there is no freezing tube in the circuit.

In the illustrative embodiments of the present invention, each of the freezing tubes I0 is divided into six freezing zones, in each-of which a cube of ice is formed. These freezing zones are separated from one another by electric heating units which surround each of tubes I0 at the edges of the freezing zones. These heating units are shown in the right-hand portions of Figure 1 at 94, there being seven heating units on each of the freezing tubes I 0. Heating units 94 are similar in structure and operation to the heating units in my copending application referred to above; each heating unit is in heat transmitting contact with the outer surface of its freezing tube I0, and it is embodded in the rubber or plastic surrounding the tubes. The heating units for each tube are connected in series and power is supplied thereto through a pair of terminals 96 (only one of which is shown) at the top of the upper freezing zone. When the apparatus is operating, all of the heating units 94 are energized continuously, and they add only suflicient heat to the adjacent annular zones of the tubes to limit the formation of ice to the freezing zones.

The water ows in thin even sheets down the tubes, and the flow is determined by the size of the nozzles I4 and the water head maintained in tank I 2 by float valvef46. The flow is sufficient to cause the ice being formed to be clear, and-as indicated above, the excess water flows from the bottom of the tubes through screen I6 into sump tank I8. As each tube is harvested, its ice falls from the bottom of the tube onto screen I6 where it is deected out of the side of tank I8 into a storage bin (not shown). Screen I6 is spaced a sufficient distance below the bottoms of the tubes to permit the ice cubes to fall free from the tubes.

Referring to Figures 2, 3, and 4 as the harvesting of the various tubes progresses counterclockwise due to the step-by-step movement of rachet wheel 14, the refrigerant ows along its spiral path clockwise. Thus, the refrigerant is flowing from the tubes which have not been harvested past the tubel being harvestedV and thence past the tubes which have been rharvested most recently. In this way such heat as is produced in each tube during harvesting is taken up by refrigerant being evaporated; any slugs of superheated gas that are formed do not pass from a tube being harvested to a tube to be harvested, but rather, they pass to the tube which has been harvested most recently. In this way each tube with its ice is supercooled at the time its harvesting operation is started, and after the harvesting loperation on a tube is completed, the tube is not subjected immediately to a, sudden cooling effect.

Except as otherwise shown, the freezing tube yassembly of the embodiment in Figures 5 to'8- is ngly, the .upper ends of .freezing tubes |0 are .unrestrictedfand when the harvesting'current is turned on, the 4ice moves upwards outof the tubes .at Yafairlyfr.apid rate.l `During .the freezing op- .eration air is `supplied to the bottom of each ltube.tofcause the ice to Ybe-clearand hard. Ac cordingly, as shown in the lower, rightehand portion of Figure .5 .the 'bottom of each freezing tube :t is provided with a plastic plug |00 into which is fitted the 4Vend of a flexible rubber .air .tube|0j2.

.Surrounding the lower end of each 'freezing tube t0 and the adjacent portion of its tube |02 is-a hard plastic valve block `|04 which carries a valve `.slide '|06 in the form of a flat strip of metal. Valve slide |06 is ynormally pushed 'to .the :left by the resiliency of tube |02, but it may be projected to theright so that its end squeezes :the .tube |f02 and shuts off the air. The lower .endof .shaft '.54 -is .provided with -a shaft exten- .tisana stringere-'1). whenshe distributor-arms 'are moved to the position to supply harvesting current to one of freezing tubes I0, cam arm ||0 f .is :also moved into engagement with the valve slides |06 of that freezing tube. In'this way'the airis shut off fromeach freezing tube during its harvesting operation, and after the harvesting operation is completed, cam arm |0 moves on and airis turned on again. The step-by-step :movement istransmitted to shaft-54fr0m a vertically aligned vrdriving shaft ||2 driven by a worm drive assembly| |4 from ahorizontal shaft v|.|.6. Shaft H2 is rotated-ataconstant rate,and an .intermittent driving 'movement is produced .byan Kintermittent vclutch assembly H8, which .hasadriving-block |20keyed-to shaft ||2'and a driven bloclrl 22keyed to shaft 54.

I ABlocks .|,and |22 are annular and the lower faceof block |20 s'positioned against the upper faceof block |22. Extending across a diameter of the lower face of-block |20 is a squareffgroove ..|23,.and=sldably received within this groove isa roller assembly |24 (see also Figure 6). Roller assembly |24 has .two rotatably mounted rollers |26 and |28 at itsends; roller |26 is carried by a square shell 4tti), and -roller '|25 'iscarriedby fasquare block |32 .-slidablyfreceivedin the righthand end of shell |30. 'A compression spring-|34 .pushes block |32 -in one direction (i. e., to the .right in Figure 5) and due to the sliding fit lof -shell |30 inv groove |23, the spring'also pushes `shell inthe opposite direction. Rollers |26 and held inA engagement withan annular raceway |35 formed by the inner'surfaceof a fixed Collard-36 (see-Figure 6). Raceway |35 is circular except atthe left inFigure 6 where it has a cam'portion |38 of increased radius. Thus, as shaft ||2 ro- .tates at a constant speed, rollers |26 and |28'roll -faround the v raceway, and :each of lthem is -held :at the radius shown except at the cam portion |38. -Whenone of the rollers reaches this cam portion, the roller moves outwardly to the bottom I40=is so positionedonshell |30 that when roller |28 `are therefore projected radially andl 8 |26 'is lin the iposition shown :in Figure .6, ithe dog is held out of engagementwith lteeth |42. However, -Whenroller |20 rolls .into the cam portion |38 of the raceway, dog |40 -is carried by `shell |30 outwardly into engagement with one of 'the teeth i142. When dog |40 .is engaged withone'of the teeth V||2,'l:1lockz|22 is moved 'by the -.dog .so that rotary movement is imparted to .shaft 54. .The arc of cam position |38 is such .that .each engagement of a tooth by dog |40 resultsin the movingof shaft 54-an arcuate distance equal :.to the distance betweenadjacent freezing .tubes II0. Thus, during one revolution of shaft ||2, roller 26 rolls around the raceway to `thecam portion |38 where it moves outwardly .and carriesits dog |40 into vengagement with one of the .teeth |42. Therotation of shaft ||2 is then transmitteddirectly -to shaft 54 to move the distributor farms 56 and 58 (Figure l) .and camarm ||0 -.(-Figure 5) from one freezing tube to the rnextfreezing tube. When these arms have reached ythis-next freezing tube, roller |20 rides Vout of the `cam portion |38 and .dog |40 .is lthereby disengaged with the tooth. 1

When roller :|28 reaches the cam .portion |38, it also rides-outwardly into the cam portion, but itis accompanied only .by its block |32, .anddog |3e is not moved radially. Thus, themovement of roller |28 producesfno movement-of shaft-54 and-for each `revolution of shaft .|f|2, arms l50, 58 and ||0 are advanced-only from one tube to the next. Under some circumstances .itmay be desirable to prevent roller |23 `from riding .down into the cam portion |38. This done by providing a cam portion |38 which is narrow in width or in arcuate eXtent,.and `thenproviding a small roller |26-and a large roller`|28 such that roller |26 will move outwardly at `the cam portion, `whereas roller |26 `will not.

As pointed out above in this rembodiment the ice cubes float to the surface of-the body of .water in tank ||2 as the various tubes are harvested. Means isthereby provided toremove the ice from this body of water.by,-in asense, fskimming" the surface of the water. Shaft ||2 is lrotatably mounted in a xedcollar |-44carried bythe stationary .vertical .sleeve .|146 which extends Vupwardly in the center of tank I2. To the .upper end of shaft |2-iskeyeda block |48 which covers the top-of cylinder Alllitand which, as shown .at the `left -in .Figure 5, has an .integral .overhanging bracket |50. YBracket |50 carries a .horizontal studsha-ft |52 upon which a scoop |54 is swingably mounted to rock between the .broken `and full line positions of .Figure8- VWhen thescoop is in the broken line position, its .forward portion |56 is immersedin the water in tank |2 .so that the ice is skimmed from the water, and when in thefuil-.linepositiom its rear-end dumping .portion .|58 is positioned to .direct the ice cubes radially over the side of tank -|.2. Thus, the scoop is normally positioned as shown .in broken lines, and is.moved around tank I2 with the forward portion |56 leading, i. e., counterclockwise in-Figure 7,.so that the-icecubesfloating .on the .surfaceof the Water-are collected in the scoop. The forwardend of thescoop is-then raised by rocking the scoop to the -position of Figure 7, and thiscauses .the icecubes-to slide rearwardly along the `scoop .where they are'- directed over .the side of4 the tank .into -a'chute |60.

Asstatedabova-.the .water level in vtank |.2fis maintained-by afloat valve assembly `shown best in Figure l, andY partitionsand 41. are.provided withholes 49 (Figurer) so that=the=waterows freely through the partitions. During each rotation of shaft 2 (Figure '1) scoop |54 moves around tank I2, and as its forward end |56 approaches partition 45, the scoop is rocked to lift its forward end. This rocking movement continues, and the ice cubes are dumped over the side of tank |2.

'are carried counterclockwise (Figure 7) away from the partition so that they are ahead of the forward end of the scoop when it is lowered into the water.

The rocking movement and position of scoop |54 is controlled by a cam ring |62 welded (see Figure 5) to the outer surface of cylinder |46, and having a top cam surface |63. Cam surface |63 is level except at |64 where it rises (see Figure '1), and upon this cam surface rests a roller |66 pivoted to the adjacent side of scoop |54. Roller |66 is positioned in leading relationship with respect to stud shaft I 52, and as it rolls around the cam surface at |64 the scoop is rocked by lifting the forward end. This dumps the ice and immediately thereafter, the scoop is returned by gravity to the broken-line position of Figure 8. The lower edge of the scoop is then held above .the bottom of tank I2 by roller |65 which rests on the level portion of the cam surface |63. Scoop |54 is of plastic which is light in weight and which has low thermal properties; thus, the ice is removed without excessive loss and without adding heat to the water in the tank I2. Scoop |54 is provided with holes |61 through which the water escapes as the scoop is lifted.

In this embodiment the turning on and 01T 0f the harvesting current is controlled mechanically and this is synchronized with the step-by-step movement of the distributor and cam arms. Accordingly, positioned beneath block |48 and clamped Vto shaft |I2 is an adjustablecam assembly |65 formed by a lower cam |69 which is rigidly fixed to shaft ||2 and an upper cam |1I which is free to rotate on shaft I|2 but which `is clamped to cam |69 by a screw |13 extending through a slot |15 and threaded into cam |59. When screw |13 is loosened, cam I1I may bre moved with respect to cam |69 from one extreme position wherein its cam surface |11 is coincident with the cam surface |19 of cam |69, and the other extreme position wherein the two cam surfaces are extended and in effect present a cam surface of twice the arcuate extent of one of the cam surfaces. Positioned in alignment with the two cam surfaces on the inner wall of cylinder I46'is an actuating button 8| of a switch |83. Shaft I I2 rotates at a constant speed and the cam surfaces |11 and |19 engage button |8| andclose switch |83. Thus, by changing the adjustment of cam |1| with respect to cam |69 the length of time that switch |83 is held closed is adjusted. The cams are so positioned on shaft ||2 with respect to dog |40 that immediately after the distributor arms 56 and 58 have been moved to a freezing tube, switch |83 is closed, and this "as to carefully control the time during which the harvesting current flows.

Another embodiment .ofthe scoop-operating mechanism is shown in Figures 9 and 10, wherein, shaft ||2 (Figure 10) is driven through a pair of bevel gears |68 by a shaft |10 carried in a sleeve bearing |12. At the top of cylinder |46 is a xed annular bronze bushing |14 which carries a rotatable plug |16. Rotatably mounted in plug |16 is a horizontal shaft |18 at the left end of which is keyed a pinion |80, and at the right end 0f which is keyed the scoop |54. Keyed to shaft |18 adjacent scoop |54 is a pinion |85:` which is positioned at a greater radius from the axis of shaft I I 2 than pinion |80. As shown in Figure 9, welded to the side of cylinder |46 in circumferential alignment with pinion so as to be in the path of travel thereof is a rack |84 (see the broken-line indication in Figure 10), and similarly mounted in circumferential alignment with pinion |82 is a rack |86. Keyed to shaft |18 adjacent pinion I82 is a roller arm |88 carrying a roller I 99 which normally rides on the top rim of cylinder |46, thereby to support the forward end of the scoop at the proper level.

f In this embodiment a harvesting operation is carried on in a clockwise direction and shaft I|2y is rotated continuously. As the forward end |56 of scoop |54 approaches partition 45, pinion |80 engages rack |84 so that shaft |18 is rocked and the forward end of the scoop is lifted, and the ice is dumped over the side of tank I2 into a chute |92. Immediately thereafter, pinion |82 engages rack |86 rocking shaft |18back to its original'position and scoop |54 is swung back down to the broken line position of Figure 8 with roller |90 riding on the top of cylinder |46. Thus, the scoop Vis moved by a positive gear drive in dumping the ice and also in returning to the iceskimming position.

Under some circumstances it is desirable to provide for the mechanical agitation of the liquid being frozen, this agitation being in place of or in addition to agitation by air, all depending upon the conditions of operation and the particular liquid being frozen. In Figures 11 to 13 plunger apparatus is provided to agitate the liquid in the freezing tubes I0 by causing a rapid up and down flow of liquid in the tubes. Accordingly enclos- *ing the bottom end of each tube I0 is a ring |94 and extending through the central opening of each ring |94 is a plunger |96. The lower end of each plunger |96 carries a sealing ring 200, and attached at its ends, respectively to this sealing -ring and ring |94, is a flexible sleeve 202, which forms a sealed chamber 204 around plunger |96. Plunger |96 has at its upper end a central bore |98 which is open at the top of thxe plunger to the freezing tube I0 and has its lower end Vextending radially from the side of the plunger so that it opens to chamber 204; thus, chamber 204 is connected to tube I0 through bore |98.

Sleeve 202 is of rubber reinforced with a helical spring, whereby it is expansible longitudinally but maintains considerable rigidity during use. Thus, when plunger |96 is oscillated up and down, the elements |96, 200 and 202 oscillate up and down between the positions shown at the right and left of Figure 11. That is, the upper end of plunger |96 moves upwardly into freezing tube |0, and at the same time chamber 204 is reduced in'jsize so that water passes from chamber 204 up through bore |98 and is directed axially up the freezing tube. The plunger is then moved down while the reverse actions take place with the plunger moving down from within the freezing tube and with chamber 204 being'enlarged in size so that water is drawn from the bottom of the yfreezing tube through bore L98 to chamber 204.

The fit between plunger' 36 and ring 94 is loose, and water, or other liquid being frozen, may seep downwardly around the outside of the plunger. Airmay be trapped in the top of chamber 224 to give a resilient or cushioned action.

The oscillatory movement of plunger I 96 is produced by a balanced double-eccentric assembly. Accordingly, two similar horizontal Webs 206 andZIS (see also Figure 13) are positioned one above the other and are slidably mounted on three vfixed vertical shafts 2li). Each web supports the lower ends of alternate ones of the plungers |98.

-Accordingly, alternate plungers are provided with extended ends, as shown at the left of Figure 11, which .extend through openings 2|2 in web 2538 .to seats 2 i4 in the upper surface of web 286. The

.opposite directions; that is, web 29E moves up as web 296 moves down, and vice versa. Crankshaft 222 is turned at a constant rate through a pulley `231), a V-belt 232, and a Apulley 234 by an electric motor 236. Thus, allof the plungers 126 are .oscillatedto produce agitationin all of the freezing tubes in an efficient manner and with a minimum of vibration.

As many possible embodiments may be made of the mechanical features of the above invention and as .the art herein described might be varied in various parts, all without departing from the scope of ,the invention, it is to be un- .derstood that all matter hereinabove set forth, or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

l. In ice-making apparatus, the combination of, a plurality of freezing tubes each having an inner surface upon which ice may be formed, refrigerating means including an evaporator assembly to subject the freezing tubes to a cooling effect from their outer surfaces, means to supply liquid to be frozen to the interiors of said tubes, and harvesting means to cause an electric current of high value to flow through the tube walls `and thereby free the ice, said harvesting means including a distributor arm pivotally mounted to swing about a xed axis and separate means electrically connected to each vof said tubes and having a contact face which is engaged by said arm to complete an electric circuit through the tube.

2. Apparatus as described in claim l, wherein said evaporator assembly is formed by rigid wall means and wall means therein of relatively de- :formable material with aplurality of passageways .each of which extends past each of said tubes i in succession thereby to form freezing zones within the tubes.

`3. Apparatus as described in claim l, wherein said evaporator assembly is formed by a pair of concentric cylindrical shells having therebetween an annular space with a resilient material substantially filling said annular space except for a 'helical passageway of aplur'ality of turnsextending Varound said cylindrical space from Yone end thereof to the other. said freezing tubes being Y*12 positioned with their axes parallel to the axis of said shellsand extending through said annular space with each tube being exposed to said helical passageway at each'turn thereof.

4. Apparatus as'described in claim 1, wherein said tubes are positionedvvertically in a substantially cylindrical bank and wherein said means' to supply liquid includes a tank connected tofthe upper ends of the tubes and means to supply water to the tank so that'water to be frozen flows into Ythe tubes.

5. Apparatus as vdescribed in claim '1, wherein the freezing tubes are vertically positioned, and

wherein restricted nozzles are formed at the upper ends ofthe tubes, and wherein said means to supply liquid includes tank means from which water to be frozen flows into the upper endsof said tubes'through said restricted nozzles which direct the water down the side walls of the tubes with water 'being supplied in excess of vthat being frozen so Vthat :water flows from the bottoms of 'the tubes.

6. Apparatusas-described in claim 1, wherein said means to supply liquid includes means yto maintain the tubes flooded with water, and wherein the tubes are so constructed and `arranged that the ice is harvested by'floating it out ofthe ends of the tubes.

7. Apparatus as described 'inclaim 1, wherein the tubes are vertically positioned, and wherein said means to supply liquid 4includes means to maintain the tubes flooded with water to be frozen, and said apparatus includes. means to supply air to the'bottom ends of said tubes.

Y8. Apparatus as described in claim 1, wherein the tubes are vertically Ypositioned and wherein -said means to supply liquid maintains the tubes flooded, and said apparatus includes fluid agitating means to causean oscillating upfand-down flow of the water'within-the tubes.

9. Apparatus as described in claim 1, 4wherein ,said means to supply liquidita `be frozen is ef- -fetctive to maintain the tubes-flooded. and Wherein said apparatus includes a plurality of 'fluid agitato'rs 'associated respectively with one end of each of said ktubes and including oscillating Vplunger means .operating through'the medium of the water being frozen to cause an oscillating yflow of the water within the tubes.

10. Apparatus as described in .claim 1. vwherein said .tubes are positioned in substantiallya cylindrical'banlg and said apparatus includes means to move Athe distributor Aarm Vof said harvesting means `*from one tube to another around the vbank in step-by-step Afashion comprising, a vertical .sh-aft, a ratchet wheel vmountedon saidshaftya gdog assembly .including .a dog to engage said ratchet wheel anddogfcarryingmeans adaptedto oscillate, andmeans tooscillate `said :dog carrying means.

'11. Apparatus as described in claim l., `wherein .said tubes are positioned in substantially a cylin- -drical bank, and said apparatusincludes .means to move the distributor arm of said 'harvesting means from-one tube to another around thebank in step-by-step 'fashion comprising, a shaft. .a

.ratchet drive for said shaft, and means -to impart .an oscillating movement 'to said ratchet :dritte `comprising -a.springsolenoid assembly.

12. Apparatus as described in claim y1, wherein ,said tubes are ,positioned in -substantially sa Acylindrical bank, and `saidapparatus includes means to `move the distributor Varm of said Aharvesting .meansfrom one tube toanother around vthe .'-bank in step-by-step fashion -.comprising, va :first :shaft driven at. asubstantially .constant speedsafsecond Ashaft coaxial with said first shaft with the shafts .having a plurality of radial teeth adapted to be engaged by said dog, and means to cause said dog carrying member to move said dog into engagement with one of said teeth for travel through a predetermined arc during each rotation of said first shaft.

13. Apparatus as described in claim 1, wherein said tubes are positioned in a cylindrical bank and wherein said evaporator assembly and said tubes are so constructed and arranged that the ice is formed in pieces of predetermined length which move from the ends of said tubesby the action of gravity, and said apparatus includes means to intercept the pieces of ice after they emerge from the tubes.

14. Apparatus as described in claim 1, wherein fsaid tubes are vertically positioned in acylindrical vof water to skim the ice bodies therefrom and a -rearward portion which directs the ice radially with respect to the annular body'of water after theice has been lifted from the water.

15. In ice-making apparatus, the combination of, a bank of parallel freezing tubes positioned in side-by-side relationship, a plurality of contact segments equal in number to twice the number of said tubes individually mounted in pairs on the opposite ends of each of said tubes with the contact segments at each of the ends of the bank of tubes having adjacent contact faces which are positioned arcuately about-a central axis, conductor means forming an electric current conducting circuit including a pair of arms positioned at the opposite ends of said bank of tubes so as to swing respectively concentrically with respect to the contact faces at the ends of the bank of tubes, means forming with said conducting circuit a transformer for producing a current of high value through said conducting circuit, means to freeze ice in said tube, and means to move said conductor means whereby said tubes are connected successively into said conducting A circuit with the result that ice formed in the tubes is freed.

16. In ice-making apparatus, the combination of, a cylindrical bank of vertical parallel freezing tubes ypositioned in side-by-side relationship about a vertical axis, two sets of contact segments individually mounted respectively on said tubes with one set of the contact segments being positioned adjacent the top of the tubes with one segment of the set being mounted on each of the tubes and with the segments of the set having adjacent contact faces which are positioned arcuately and with the other of said sets of segments being positioned adjacent the bottom of the bank of tubes mounted respectively upon the tubes and having arcuately positioned contact faces, conductor means forming an electric current conducting circuit including a central memtral member with thefree end ofv each of thev arms opposite and adapted to move into contacttwith the adjacent. set..of said contact'fa'ces,` means forming with said conducting circuit a transformer for producing .an electric current of. high value through said conducting circuit, means to freeze ice in said tubes, and means to swing` said conductor means about; said axis whereby .said tubes are connected successively to said conducting circuit with the result that the velectricity yflows Vthrough the walls .of the tubes andvice formed in the tubes is freed. v l

17. In ice-making apparatus, the combination of, a freezing tube yassembly formed by a plurality of parallel freezing tubes, an evaporatorand supporting construction surrounding the main portion of each of said tubes and forming evaporator sections around each of said tubes whereby each of said tubes is subjected to a cooling effect, said evaporator and supporting construction being .fomed by a plurality of sheet metal Vwallistructures having`V plastic-therebetween which form evaporator passageways-,a plurality of4 contactors equal .in number to the numberY of said tubes and positioned at one endof said tubes-with the contactors being fixed respectively to the tubes, and means-to form an electrical'circuit through said tubes individually including anV arm which` is adapted to be positioned to engage said contactors individually and means connectedto the end of each of said tubes opposite said varm to complete the electrical circuit through the respectivetubes.

18. Ice-making apparatus as described inclaim 17 which includes, a vtank rto contain water-and ber positioned along said axis and a pair of arms positioned respectively at the ends of said centhereby maintainsaid tubes ioodedA withwater, and an ice -discharge'mechanismto remove-ice bodies from the tank'including-a scoop and-means to move the scoop along the surface ofthe water in the tank. I v f 19. Ice-making apparatus as described in claim 18 `wherein said ice discharge means includes, a Yvertical shaft, a horizontal shaft journaled on said vertical shaft and projecting radially with respect to the axis thereof, a scoop 'carried by said'horizontal shaft, and ay pair of gear and rack assemblies to rock said scoop to and from an ice-dumpingposition during rotation of said vertical shaft.

` 20. Ice-making apparatus as described in -claim 17 wherein said freezing'tubes are positioned'with vertical axes in a cylindrical array, and fsaid apparatus includes, a pair of rings positioned respectively at the ends of the array of tubes and providing rigid support at the ends of the tubes, and an annular tank positioned on the top of the upper ring and having openings in its bottom wall to said tubes.

21. In the art of making congealed bodies of' uniform size and shape, the steps of, flooding a passageway with a liquid to be congealed, creating alternate freezing and heating zones along the axial extent of said passageway by refrigerating and heating alternate bands of the passageway, producing heat to free the bodies, and floating the bodies upwardly through the uncongealed liquid.

22. In the art of making congealed bodies, the steps of, ooding a passageway with a liquid to be congealed and providing a free body of water above the passageway and open thereto, creating alternate freezing and heating zones along the axial extent of said passageway by refrigerating and heating alternate bands of the passageway, producing heat to free the bodies, floating the bodies upwardly through the uncongealed liquid and from the passageway into the free body of 15 water and :removing @the bodies Vfrom the .free :hodylof water.

n.23. `In the art of making congealed,bodies,;the steps of, flooding `a plurality .of vparallel vertical `:passageways which are `arranged with their .axes isubstantially alonga .cylindrical surface'with a liquid to Abe congealed and forming an annular bodyof water above the passageways open there- Ltngat the upper ends, creating alternate freezing .and heating zones valongithe axial extent o'f each fof said passageways.byrefrigerating and heating alternate bands thereof producing heatto free the bodies, floating the bodies upwardly through the -uncongealedliquid into the annular body ofliquid .and gathering the bodies by an arcuatemovement around said annular body ofliquid.

224. In ice-making apparatusthe combination ..0f, a plurality of freezing tubes each having a :surface-upon which ice maybe formed, refrig- :erating Vmeans including an evaporator assembly .to-subject spaced zones of each of `said tubes to a vcooling `effect thereby tol form ice :bodies ,when .liguid'tobe frozen is present, and means .to supply :liquid ,to be frozen to the freezing surface in said .Zonesof eachof said tubes,fsaid evaporator as- ,fsembly .including rigid wall means and plastic re- ;tained by said rigid wall means and forming .evaporator passageways through .which liquid refrigerant passes and is evaporated in heatfex- .changefrelationship withsaid zonesof said tubes.

.2.5. .Apparatus .as `described in ,claim 24 Wherein-.said tubes are positioned .in-a cylindrical array `Awith .vertical axes and withsaid freezing :surfaces .being the inner surfaces of the tubes,

and Iwherein said rigid wall means which forms l kto a cooling effect from `their outer surfaces, means to supply liquid .to .be frozen Ato the .interiors of said tubes, and harvesting means to harvestsaid tubes .serially `including a rotary shaft and stepping means Ato impart step-by- 'step rotary. movement .tosaid shaft, comprising a ratchet wheel mounted on said shaft, a dog adapted to engage said ratchet '.wheel, a 'dog lsupporting member providing support for said degat the periphery of said ratchet wheel,.and meanslto oscillate said dog holding means and said ldog through a predetermined aro to turnsaidzratchet wheel.

.27. In ice-making apparatus, the combination of,.a plurality of vertical freezingtubes positioned in side-.by-side relationship and each Apresenting .an inner freezing surface upon which ice may be formed, refrigerating means including an evaporator assembly to subject the freezing .tubesito a cooling effect from their outer surfaces, vmeans `to .supply liquid .to 'be frozen to the interiors of said tubes, said means to supply liquid to `be frozen including a tank positioned at the top ends of said tubes and having a free passageway into said tubes with the tubes being Vmaintained .in fiooded condition and with a body of lwaterbeing maintained insaid tank, means to harvest the ice bodies and to float them upwardly from 'fsaid tubes into said body of Water, andmeans .to .remove .the bodiesfrom .said body of water ccmprising `a .scoop having ,ajorward portion which is moved to `skim .the surface of .the Water `and a rearward portion whichdirects the bodieshori- .zontally beyond the edge .of the .body of Twater.

CROSBY FIELD.

REFERENCES .CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date I 1,998,575 Furnas Apr.23, 1935 2,149,000 Udell Feb. 28, 1939 2,200,424 Kubaugh May 14, 1940 2,221,212 Wussow Nov. 12, 1940 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date' 668,100 Germany Nov. 25,1938 

